This offseason was an immensely important one for the Washington Commanders. Their drop-off was as drastic as their rise to the NFC Championship game, leaving general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn with a substantial amount of hard work ahead to get things back on track.
Peters was aggressive on the recruitment front, moving away from veterans chasing another ring and replacing them with younger, hungry players who can be long-term pieces of the puzzle. Quinn is now molding them into a cohesive unit, and the players left no doubt about their eagerness to right the wrong of 2025.
Fans remain optimistic. Bouncing back will not be easy, but the Commanders have the talent to achieve this objective. It is not perfect just yet, but Peters has plenty of spare cash to spend if he decides that more is needed.
That's to be determined, but the early signs are positive. If the same trend continues over training camp and into the preseason, the Commanders will be a tough nut to crack when competitive action begins.
Before then, here are five winners and two losers from the Commanders' statement offseason.
Winners and losers from Washington Commanders' 2026 offseason
Winner No. 1
Commanders edge-rushing upgrades
Adam Peters knew what his top priority was this offseason. The general manager wanted to bolster the team's edge-rushing options and was aggressive in achieving this objective.
Things look a lot more promising now. And it didn't take long for confidence in the new additions to rise even further over Washington's offseason program.
Odafe Oweh is the big investment, and he made a considerable impression. He's got the size, length, and explosiveness to completely shift the dynamic. If he can transition smoothly into a three-down role, the Commanders should get a decent return on their massive investment.
Peters also secured K'Lavon Chaisson, who was more than happy to bet on himself again with a one-year deal. Head coach Dan Quinn named him among the offseason's standouts, and there is growing buzz in the building that he could have a significant role to play.
Charles Omenihu brings experience and versatility. Fifth-round rookie Joshua Josephs has flashed encouraging signs to date, so a prominent spot on the rotation looks well within his capabilities. With veteran Dorance Armstrong Jr. making encouraging progress from a serious knee injury that ended his breakout campaign early, this has the makings of a highly productive unit.
Couple this with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' scheme, which is expected to be creative, aggressive, and explosive, and Washington's pass-rush could be a pleasant surprise next season.
